Motion picture printing machine



May19,1931. @LANE 1,805,948

MOTION PICTURE PRINTING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1928 adict nu;

Patentedl May 19, 1931 vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E, OFPOGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORCK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

AUDIO-CINEMA, INCORPORATED, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, vA CORPORA-TION OF NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE PRINTING MACHINE' Application led June27,

This invention relates to a device for printing or producing positivemotion picture film of the type carrying synchromzed sound records.

It is well known that usually the .printmg of the sound record cannotbe'done at the same time as the printing of the picture record, but onthe contrary, must be accompli/shed as a separate operation. Inaddition, as the sound and picture records occupy different parts of thefilm str1p, one portion must be shielded from the light while the otheris being printed, and vice versa. l n This invention, therefore, has asits prin- 'cipal object,-the provision of means 1n connection with acommercial form of continuous printer, which will carry av plurality ofvselectiveapertures, so that by adjusting the proper aperture inposition, the same machine may be used for printing the sound andpicture records, withV minimum movement of machine parts.

To this end the invention contemplates g5 the provision lin a standardcontinuous printer of the type used for producing positive sound andpicture records, of an aperture ring having thereon a plurality ofapertures of different widths and extents, so arranged in relation tothe printing aperture, that one of the ring apertures may be made to`occupy the desired position for printing either the sound or picturerecords, as desired. A

In the drawings:

Figure' lis a side elevation partly in section of a device embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a front view partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the aperture ring. s

Referring now to the form illustrated, there is indicated at 10 aportion of the housing of the printing machine through the front ofwhich the lamp 11 throws a beam to print the record.

A negative film strip is shown at 12 and the positive at 13 upon whichthe record is to be printed. These two strips are fed to the prmwtingaperture of the housing in the 1928. Serial No. 288,695.

ordinary manner, passing between the film guide 14 and the aperture ring15.

The ring 15 is suitably mounted adjacent the printing aperture andwithin the housing so that it may have rotation about its axis shaft 16under impulse of the handle 17.

The shaft 16 carries a yoke 18 in engagement with the periphery of thering 15 so that the ring may be rotated by movement of the handle. i

The ring proper is provided with a plurality of apertures therein suchas shown at 19 used to print standard pictures, as this aperture extendsthe full Width of the film; the aperture 20 to print the picture recordonly; and the aperture21 to print the sound record only. Inner opaquestrips 23 having their ends spaced a art as at 24 prevent the lescape oflight rom the housing and 7o through the superimposed film strips,except through the aperture in the ring, which at that time coincideswith the space 24.

A closure disc 25 surrounds the shaft 16 and is provided on itsperiphery with a plurality of sockets 26 corresponding to the number ofapertures in the ring. A spring pressed plunger 27, carried by thehandle 17, may be made to seat in any of the sockets 27 by movement ofthe knurled knob 28.

Preliminary to any printing process, requiring a certain ring aperture,the ring 15 is moved until the proper aperture therein is in position byseating the plunger 27 in the appropriate socket. This adjustment havingbeen made, the above mentioned conne'ctions hold the ring in astationary position throughout the operation. The presence' of thestrips 23 prevent printing through any aperture other than that which islocated between their ends.

It will be apparent that with such a device, the machine may do eitherwork and that the change from a sound printer to a picture printer maybe done almost instantly and with ease.

What I claim is:

1. In a film strip printing machine, means having a printing aperturefor the passage of light to the film, and means controlling 100 thepassage of lightI through said (printing aperture comprismg a member ajustable relative to said printing aperture, said member having aplurality of apertures spaced 5 apart along the same and out ofalignment in respect to the direction of the movement of adjustment ofsaid member thereof, said member when adjusted bringing said aperturesto register separately with the printing aperture for printing uponareas of said lm which are disaligned longitudinally thereof, one areabeing for the motion pictures and the other for the sound track,substantially as described. f 2. In combination, arc-shaped means havinga printing aperture for the passage of light, a ring contacting with andmovable circumferentially about the outer side of said arc-shaped means,said ring having an aperture through which the motlon pictures areprinted and a second aperture spaced apart along the ring from the firstmentioned aperture near the marfrin of said ring and disalignedlongitudinally of the ring in respect to the first mentioned aperture,for printing the sound track on the film, out of hne with the pictures,means for guiding the film strip to the ring and means for adjusting thering circumferentially to make its aperture separately register' withVthe printing aperture.

In testimony whereof, I aix m Si atule. y GEORG

